A judge in the US state of Georgia overseeing Donald Trump’s election interference case has ruled the prosecutor who brought the charges can remain on the case if the special prosecutor she appointed steps aside.
Mr Trump and his co-defendants had been seeking to have Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis removed following revelations that she had a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade.
The ruling, by Judge Scott McAfee, is a blow to the former US president and Republican candidate to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden later this year.
The judge’s decision caps a tumultuous two months for Ms Willis, whose relationship with Mr Wade was revealed in a January court filing by a co-defendant of Mr Trump.
Defence lawyers said the relationship posed a conflict of interest and improperly enriched Ms Willis and Mr Wade, who holidayed together while he was drawing a government salary.
Judge McAfree said he found no conflict of interest but told Ms Willis to avoid the “appearance of impropriety”.
Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty in the four criminal cases he faces and has sought to delay trials until after the November election.
In Georgia, he is accused of illegally pressuring officials to overturn his loss to Joe Biden in the state in the 2020 presidential election.
The ruling comes after the US Supreme Court agreed to review Mr Trump’s bid for presidential immunity in his Washington election interference case, which could delay that trial until after this November’s election.
